Damascus News - Term 4 Week 5 - Marian College Sunshine West

It has been a tumultuous week here at Damascus College, with many members of our community being required to observe isolation requirements due to exposure to confirmed cases of COVID-19 here at school. I am pleased to report that the two members of the community who have tested positive are both doing well, with one person asymptomatic and the other reporting only mild symptoms. We send our thoughts and prayers to them, as it is an anxious time for both families.

For families with a student identified as a primary close contact, Grampians Health is teaming with the College to conduct an information session for those families this afternoon at 5:00pm. Families of Primary close contacts will receive an MS Teams appointment in their email. If you have not received one, could you please contact the College. We have asked if the session could be recorded for those who are unable to make it.

In many ways, our closure last Friday proved an untimely blessing. There was no power here at Damascus until Saturday afternoon, and our ability to conduct classes here on site would have been untenable on Friday. The College received significant damage to trees on the site in the storm, and we have arborists working here currently to ensure that our site remains safe.

Year 11 students have returned on site today, and their classes are progressing. Year 7 to 10 students are remote learning from today until Friday. The majority of Year 7-10 students will return on site on Monday, and we will have a tutor program online available for the early days of next week to support those in their final few days of isolation to keep up to date with their school work. More information will be provided to families of primary close contacts regarding the processes to support learning until they can return onsite.

Next week we are asking that Damascus students continue to wear masks inside and outside as a matter of confidence for all in our community. Subject to no further confirmed cases, students may remove masks outdoors from Monday 15^th November.

The canteen will reopen from Monday, however students are encouraged to order their lunch to decrease congestion in this space. Once students have collected their lunch, they are required to move outside. Orders can be placed at quickcliq.com.au. Unless the weather is wet, students will be taking breaks outside.

1st November was the feast of All Saints and yesterday the Feast of All Souls. The month of November is considered a time of remembrance in our tradition. In considering my reflection this week, it was the place of human saints in our lives that I was drawn. Particularly people who are no longer with us yet have had a remarkable influence on our lives.

Joyce Rupp makes these reflections in her book ‘Out of the Ordinary’: “It is a time to remember with gratitude all those persons whose goodness has inspired me in my beliefs and given me the courage to act on what I believe…….. I think of “Saints” as not only those women and men who have been canonized by the church, but all people whose lives reflect the goodness of God. Saints are often not perfect people. They have their faults, idiosyncrasies, and weaknesses. They have their own struggles and difficulties. Even the canonized ones are noted to have been difficult to live with because of their unique mannerisms. Yet, the saints are people of integrity. They have a central focus at the core of their lives: the love of God. They consistently choose to act out that central reality, no matter how ordinary or extraordinary their lives may be.” (Joyce Rupp. ‘Out of the Ordinary’. Page 32. 2000)

My prayer this week is one of gratitude for the saintly people of influence in my life. Many of you out there are acting in the interest of the safety of others, supporting your young person in isolation or the general challenges of living in a post COVID world. It may help young people and even ourselves to know that our actions to keep others safe reflect a godly desire to love one another.

We remember in our prayers the family of Millie King (Year 7) on the passing of her loved Pa. In this month of remembrance, we pray that our loving God is with the King family in their time of loss.

Until next week …

Please see following the end of year hours for Dobson's on site:-

Seeds of Justice is an initiative of the Mercy Education community. It strengthens the links between Mercy schools – staff and students and Mercy organisations by providing students with a deeper awareness of social justice issues and the implications of the Gospel.

On Friday the 28^th of October, students from years 9-11 attended a Seeds of Justice event hosted by the Mercy Network online. Hosted by former Damascus College student, Bernadette Hogan the theme for the day was, “Opening the Doors of Mercy”, with a specific focus on asylum seekers and refugees.

The students heard from a variety of speakers and learnt that an asylum seeker, until they are classified as a ‘refugee’ by the Australian Government or are granted a specific type of visa are unable to access basic services such as education and healthcare.

The students then brainstormed ideas and created potential campaigns to raise awareness of this issue. In the final prayer, students were reminded of Jesus’ Greatest Commandment, which was to, “love your neighbour, as yourself” (Mt 22:39).

At each gathering participants pledge the following: to continue to work for justice in the footsteps of Catherine McAuley and to support the works of the Sisters of Mercy.

Damascus College is proud of the contemporary and innovative curriculum that our students are presented with. In Years 7 & 8, students participate in programs that encourage the further development of foundational skills and knowledge. This year Humanities Learning Area Leader Gerard Macklin and Humanities Teacher Hannah Muirhead trialled participating in the National History Challenge for two year 8 classes.

The introduction of the Challenge was to give students an opportunity to participate in a project-based activity, that they could work on in groups or individuals, that highlighted the importance of history.

Mr Macklin said that they would try to work participating in the Challenge into the end of term 2 year 8 curriculum. They decided to target it at the year 8 level hoping that it would be met with enthusiasm and then as the students move through the years we hope that they engage in the opportunity to participate in the challenge of their own volition. Mr Macklin anticipates holding some lunchtime sessions to share the challenge with interested students and anticipates support from the Humanities team. Teachers like Ms Muirhead will assist the students with exploring the theme, formats that could be used and ultimately submitting their entries.

A full range of topics were submitted including; Athletics, the Australian Goldrush, First Man on the Moon, World War II, the Eureka Stockade, and Automobiles. Students chose formats ranging from presentations, dioramas and even websites.

Ms Muirhead said that choosing just 6 entries to progress to the state level was almost impossible because they were all so good but ultimately advancement in this National competition was based on how well the project addressed the theme. She was excited to share that of the Damascus College entries submitted some have already been selected to represent the state at the National level.

Congratulations to all the students involved, and to the staff who are supporting them.